The budget ran a surplus for the first time since January 2011, when the surplus was RON0.8 billion.
Total revenues to the consolidated budget rose 11.3% on the year to RON16.3 billion in January, while overall expenditure increased 10.6% to RON15.3 billion.
The ministry said revenues from the value added tax increased by 15.4% in January compared with the same month of 2011, while excise duty revenue climbed 41.7%. Revenues from the income tax rose 17.8% on the year in January, while social security contributions were up 10.3%.
In 2011, Romania’s budget deficit narrowed to RON23.8 million, or 4.35% of the GDP, from 6.5% of GDP a year earlier.
The government targets a deficit of 1.9% of GDP for 2012.